09-15-15
Nissan awards $89,360 in grants to fund innovative learning opportunities for Mississippi students
Today Nissan and BankPlus will award 34 grants totaling $89,360 to fund creative educational projects taught by teachers in the Canton and Madison County school districts. The Nissan/BankPlus Education Mini-Grant Program, administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, has awarded $560,000 to local schools since the program was created in 2007.
Each year local teachers, counselors and school administrators are invited to apply for the grants, which provide funding for projects that their school’s budget will not cover. Grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 and support innovative teaching and learning that aligns with state-mandated curricula.
The names of this year’s projects illustrate the range of topics that will engage students: “Bacteria Quest,” “Everyday Math with Everyday Technology,” “Read to Lead” and “Geometry: Does It Really Add Up?” Some project funds will be used to purchase robotics kits, science laboratory supplies, a printer to enable the publishing of original writing, or materials to support the creation of a one-act opera produced by fourth graders.
“These grants enhance the learning experience of hundreds of Mississippi students every year, giving them opportunities they would not have enjoyed otherwise,” says Jane Alexander, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson. “We are so grateful that Nissan demonstrates its commitment to education with its financial support year after year.”
Since 2003, Nissan and its employees have awarded more than $11 million in educational grants, scholarships and in-kind gifts. Nissan employees give of their time as well, volunteering in classrooms, as one-on-one mentors or as board members for nonprofits focused on youth development and education.
“Education is a powerful asset that will help our students reach their full potential,” says Steve Marsh, Nissan’s vice president, Manufacturing. “Encouraging students to learn and grow is the objective of these grants because we know that what they learn in classrooms today will shape our community and our workforce in the future.”
Nissan will present the mini-grants this afternoon at a recognition ceremony at its assembly plant in Canton. Representatives from BankPlus, Nissan’s on-site banking partner and mini-grant program collaborator, will participate in the ceremony.
“We are extremely proud to continue to partner with Nissan on the mini-grant program each year,” says Gene Delcomyn, senior executive vice president of BankPlus. “Nissan and BankPlus are both committed to improving our community through increasing the quality of education our children receive, and this program helps make that possible.”
